POV | Despicable words and a non-apology from Gov. Bevin

I wasn't confused. I didn't misunderstand. I heard the words he spoke loud and clear.

Tuesday, April 17th 2018, 9:58 am EDT

Updated:

Tuesday, April 17th 2018, 4:30 pm EDT

By Bill LambWDRB President and General Manager

Last Friday, Kentucky's teachers came to Frankfort and took Governor Matt Bevin to school. Their mission was to ask legislators to override a veto by the Governor, which would have cut their funding. They did what they were entitled to do, what they felt they must do, and they were successful.

Governor Bevin is consistent. You're either with him 100 percent on every issue, or you're the enemy. When the teachers got his veto overturned, he immediately went to his go-to move: cheap shots. And in this case, stupid, inexcusable comments trying to smear teachers.

"I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them," Bevin said. "I guarantee you somewhere today a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were home alone."

The Governor embarrassed Kentucky in front of the entire nation. He apologized Sunday, but it was one of those apologies where he basically said I'm sorry if you weren't smart enough to comprehend my brilliance.

"For those of you who understood what I'm saying, thank you and I appreciate that you do," Bevin said. "But clearly, a tremendous number of people did not fully appreciate what it was that I was communicating."

Oh! So it was our fault?

"Many people were confused or hurt or just misunderstand what it was that I was trying to communicate," Bevin said.

I wasn't confused. I didn't misunderstand. I heard the words he spoke loud and clear. No matter what else was said in the apology, those words showed no genuine remorse.

Governor Bevin needs a thicker skin so he can consider ideas that may differ from his own.

He needs to act more like the Christian man he professes to be, and be nicer to people who see things differently. He needs to understand that real leaders don't bully those who may disagree with him.

What about you? Do you accept his apology, or do you think he should try again?